A/N: Thanks so much for reading!

After All

Chapter 21

After all that we've been through…It all comes down to me and you…

In those pre-awakening seconds, Sara Sidle's senses told her she wasn't in her bed—or any bed she'd recently slept in. The sheets were silky and smelled faintly of lavender; the pillows were cloud-like soft and the bed was definitely expensive form-shaping foam that felt like a plush nest around her body. A fast recollection of events flooded her brain causing her to throw back the cream-colored duvet as her feet touched the floor.

Only then did she hear the soft hum from across the quiet room.

As she walked to the source of the sound, her feet pressed into lush, undoubtedly pricey carpet. Smiling, she thought 'Not your ordinary hotel room' before she quietly asked:

"How are you two doing? Did you sleep? What time is it?"

Gil Grissom, feeling amazingly rested, immediately felt a warmth grow from his chest to his groin as he watched his wife cross the floor; her long graceful legs striding in his direction with an extremely appealing appearance on her face. He returned her smile, saying, "You needed to sleep—we are fine. I slept—so did this one and it's almost noon." Cradled in the crook of his arm was a sleeping baby.

Sara dropped to her knees, her hand going to the infant's head covered in a soft knit cap. She asked, "Isn't she beautiful?" Her brow wrinkled, "Do you think our own could possibly be this beautiful?" Softly, she laughed before sighing, "What happens next?"

"Your appointment—we need to—to know about you." His hand caressed her face and she tilted her head so she met his kiss.

In silence, he moved so she could join him in the over-sized chair and affection and desire warmed both; after several minutes of increasingly passionate kissing, Sara pulled away. With a soft giggle, she said, "I hate to say this, but we are not having sex on the day I go see my doctor—and I am pretty turned on by the way you handle a baby."

Grissom grunted and shifted in the chair. "Sorry about that—I get turned on watching my beautiful wife walk across the floor." He kissed her again. "I think this little one might be out for a while—and we can eat."

Sara wiggled her hip against his and snuggled her knee against his thigh and laughed. "Food before sex—have we passed the honeymoon period already?"

Kissing her again, Grissom said, "No, honeymoon isn't over—it has just started." He laughed, "We're on a detour. Jim is sending someone up to help with Shui—I told him we had an appointment and didn't explain."

Taking the baby, Sara settled Shui into the small white bed provided by the hotel while Grissom called room service. Sara crawled back into bed, pulling covers over her bare legs and arranging pillows so she could see the baby.

Around midnight, they had landed at the air force base north of Las Vegas in a FBI jet. When the airsteps opened, Jim Brass and Catherine Willows seemed to materialize from the darkness. Until that moment, Sara would admit to mounting frustration from the moment the FBI had stated with no debate that the Grissoms needed to leave their home.

Any discussion had happened while she had fed Shui, gathered clothing, packed two suitcases and all baby-care supplies in the house; then a fast ride to the airport in Santa Monica. She was running on adrenaline until she collapsed into a bed several hours later. Catherine and Jim knew what had happened because Catherine had not asked a thousand questions. And neither expressed surprise at their arrival with a newborn baby.

They had driven to the parking garage of the casino resort where Catherine was a majority owner and, by a dedicated elevator, taken to one of the exclusive penthouses on the top floor. Sara had barely noticed her surroundings as she'd cared for Shui while others discussed their situation.

As she snuggled back into the still warm spot in bed, she laughed. Catherine could handle whatever was thrown at her and never miss a step—while wearing heels. They had a newborn, needed a secluded hiding place, and somehow—Sara knew Catherine welded power—they had ended up in Vegas, not on a remote military base, in a penthouse suite.

And for the first time in her short life, Shui had a real baby bed with see-thru sides and a bright butterfly attached to the rail. And a stack of new clothes.

Sara leaned into the pillows, silently laughing again at Catherine's ability to purchase a dozen baby gowns and body suits, caps and socks, and add a butterfly to the cradle in the middle of the night—all accomplished in a few hours.

Grissom appeared in the door, saying, "Breakfast and lunch ordered—salads and two omelets arriving in fifteen-twenty minutes."

When Sara moved to get out of bed, he raised his hand. "Stay there if you want. We can eat in bed—or out here."

She got out of bed, saying, "Quick shower before eating."

"Over there," he said, pointing to a set of doors. Following her, Grissom stood in the doorway as her mouth opened in awe at the bathroom.

"I don't remember this from last night!"

He laughed. "You used the one in the other room. I found this one early this morning."

She walked in, pulling her shirt over her head and stepping out of her short pants. "This is an experience!" After experimenting with a set of handles, she adjusted water and walked into the shower.

It wasn't just a shower but a curved tile walk under a set of adjustable shower heads; the shower actually surrounded a round free-standing soaking tub. A variety of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash bottles had been placed in built-in shelves.

"How many people could stand in this thing?" Sara said, laughing as she tried two body washes before deciding on one to use.

Grissom, holding a towel, waited for her to exit. "You look darn sexy in there," he said, making a quiet growl when she stepped into his embrace as he wrapped the towel around her.

"How did you convince the FBI to put us here instead of the base?"

Wrapping another towel around her head, he explained what she had not heard. "Only dorm space available and once I heard that, I pretty much insisted on another plan. Called Catherine and she said she could provide the perfect place." He chuckled, saying, "You know Catherine—she doesn't take 'no'—and after she said she'd provide security, I think the FBI gave in."

A bell chimed.

"Our food—in bed or in the other room? There's a pretty nice view when I opened the curtains."

"Let me dress and we'll eat in the—the—what's it called? This place is the size of a house!"

By the time Sara dressed and entered the living area, she knew who had arrived with food.

Jim Brass was placing plates of food on the round table in the dining area and greeted her with, "Good morning, sleepy head!" Pointing to Grissom standing near the floor-to-ceiling windows, he said, "FBI guys." He pulled a chair out, indicating it was for her.

The windows did have a magnificent view of Las Vegas.

After a few minutes of filling plates and pouring beverages, Jim said, "You two have had a lot of excitement since getting married—what—three weeks ago?" He chuckled, saying, "And a baby! Are you going to keep her?"

Sara contorted her face into a quick grimace. "Probably not—we haven't looked into it because we thought she had family. Now, she doesn't. We'd like to—oh, Jim—it gets complicated."

Brass placed his fork on his plate and carefully studied Sara for a long moment. "Are you pregnant?" Her old friend had suddenly realized she was radiant and not all the glow was the result of a recent shower. "What? You think I can't make a guess?" He winked, "My lips are sealed—does he know?"

Sara nodded. "I'm going to the doctor this afternoon."

"Ahh—the appointment. I'll be up with Celeste—she's good—excellent as a sitter. Been doing this for years."

Grissom arrived at the table, cell phone in hand. "Good news," he said. "I guess its good news. We know what was in the freighter—not just smuggling people but smuggling guns! Lots of guns."

"Has anyone been arrested?"

Shaking his head, he filled his plate with the remaining omelet and poured coffee into a cup. "The guy who came after us was a hired hit man—from Vietnam—can you believe? Not even a local! They want us to stay here for a few days—a week, maybe—while they continue looking for the helicopter and wrap up everyone on the ship."

Sara asked, "Any mention of Shui?"

"Nope."

Brass, using his fork to point toward the bedroom, asked, "What's with that name? I mean, what's wrong with Mary or Abby or—or Wendy?"

Sara pointed to Grissom, saying, "Ask him."

"Water—it means water in Chinese," Grissom explained.

"Sounds like you're decorating a room."

Both Grissom and Sara looked puzzled; Sara was the first to catch his wit.

Brass chuckled, saying, "You think I don't know about arranging furniture?"

She said, "Feng shui—you are too funny!" She looked at Grissom, "Maybe we should re-think Shui—that is—if she stays with us."

A couple of hours later, Sara reclined on an examination table after answering dozens of questions, waiting for results from urine and blood tests. The nurse and physician prepped her for a transvaginal ultrasound; the doctor explained the procedure and likely results.

Grissom held her hand.

With her feet in padded boots, the exam table had been reclined; at least the 'boots' were an improvement, Sara thought.

A minute later, her physician said, "Well, you're developing a very positive Chadwicks sign. You cervix is already turning blue."

Grissom squeezed her hand.

Several more minutes passed as the doctor watched the ultrasound screen. Suddenly smiling, she said, "Right there—perfect placement—is a gestational sac! You are pregnant!"

A/N: Thank you for staying with us-we appreciate hearing from readers!